Gum Acacia as a Novel Therapeutic Agent for Male Infertility: What Does the Evidence Say?

Abstract

Male fertility has declined markedly in recent decades, with reductions in sperm count, motility, and quality posing a growing global concern. Among the multifactorial causes, oxidative stress plays a central role by disrupting redox balance, damaging sperm DNA, impairing membrane integrity, and reducing motility. Natural antioxidants, particularly plant-derived bioactives, have gained significant attention as potential modulators of male reproductive health. Gum Acacia (GA), a dried exudate obtained mainly from Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, is a highly branched arabinogalactan-rich polysaccharide with excellent solubility, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. Preclinical studies suggest that GA exerts protective effects on testicular function by reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, and improving metabolic and hormonal profiles, including testosterone and luteinizing hormone. GA has also shown promise in mitigating reproductive damage caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, and environmental toxins, as well as enhancing semen cryopreservation as a plant-based alternative to conventional extenders. Despite these encouraging findings, evidence remains limited, fragmented, and largely restricted to animal studies, with human data virtually absent. This review critically appraises current experimental and biomedical evidence on GA as a modulator of male fertility, highlights potential mechanisms of action, and identifies key knowledge gaps. Findings indicate that GA could emerge as a safe, accessible, and cost-effective adjunct for improving male reproductive outcomes, warranting further investigation in standardized and clinically oriented studies.